Mail-bag catching and delivering apparatus.



N5. 897,443. PATENTBD SEPT. 1, 1908;

0. O. AYRES.

MAIL BAG GATGHING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS.

. APPLIdATIOI IILED In. 27, 190B.

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anwntou No. 897,443. PATENTED SEPT. 1, 190a.

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MAIL'BAG GATGHING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS.

PPLwAmox mum MAR. 2 1908. I :v A 4 SHEETS-SHEET z.

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luolllls III!!! at, wunmomn. 0! c4 No. 897,443. PATENTBD SEPT. 1,1908. 0. 0. AYRES.

MAIL BAG GATCH ING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27, 1908.

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No. 897,443 7 PATENTED $13M. 1, 190a. 0. -0. AYRBS. A

MAIL BAG GATGHING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED KAB. 27, 1908.,

4 BIEBT8-IIBBT 4.

OSCAR O. AYRES, OF OLATHE, KANSAS.

MAIL-BAG- CATCHING AND DELlIVE-RING APIARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1, 1908.

Application filed March 27, 1908. Serial No. 423,685.

To all whom it may concern:

Be-it known that I, OSCAR O. Arnns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Olathe, in the county of Johnson, State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Catching and Delivering A) aratuses; and I do hereby declare the fo owing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it a pertains to make and use the same.

he present invention has reference to mail bag catchin and deliverin apparatus of that ty e whic is employed W ere mail is received by and delivered from a moving train, the general object of the invention residing in the provision of an exceedingly slmp e apparatus, by means of which the simultaneous transfer of a mail bag or bags from the train to the receiving station and from the station to the train is effected in the safest possible manner.

The invention relates more es ecially to certain improvements in the mec anism located at the receiving station, such mechanism bein of that general type which includes a ag-supporting crane, a traveling bagreceiving member, and devices for braking the latter, the specific construction of said member and the brake mechanism connected therewith presenting the most im ortant' features of the invention, as hereina ter-described.

The referred embodiment of the invention is i lustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which correspondin parts or features, as the case may be, are designated by the same reference numerals throughout the several views.

Of the said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the mechanism at one end of the trolley, and that carried by the car, the first-mentioned mechanism being support.

shown in its operative position. Fig. 2 is a perspective vlew of the mechanism at the other end of the trolley, showing the same in its inoperative rigsition. Fig. 3 is a plan view 0 Fig. 1. g. 4 is an end view of ig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the position of the traveling bag-removing memer after the transfer of t e mail-bags has been effected. Fi 6 is an enlarged detail view illustratin t e manner in which the upper arm of t e crane is connected to its Fig. 7 is a detail view illustrating and efficient automatically-operated the manner in which a plurality of mail-bags are attached to the crane at the receiving station, prior to the movement of the crane-into operative position.

The mechanism located at the receiving station comprises an elevated trolley-wire 1 attached at opposite ends to the tops of a pair of vertical supporting osts or standards 2 located adjacent to tie tracks upon which the mail train travels, and braced by guy-ropes 3 and rods 4, as shown. Each standard has secured centrally thereto a horizontal cross-beam 5 whose rear end is fastened to the upper end of a second standard 6, the front end of said beam having secured thereto a short upstanding rod 7 pivoted at a point slightly off-center to the upper arm 8 of the bag-supporting crane, the connections between said rod and arm being effected by means of an angular pin, one arm of which fits in a socket in the rod and the other arm in a socket in the arm 8.

The crane, as shown in Figs. 1,2 and 4, comprises the upper arm 8 above referred to, a lower arm 9 and front and rear chains 10 and 11 connecting said arms, the rear end of the arm 8 being engaged by a spring latch 12, when the crane is in its operative osition, in which osition, the chains are held taut by the Weig t of the mail-ba 'su ported upon the front ends of said arms ot of which are formed by metal bars. The relation of the arm 8 to the rod 7 is such that said arm is capable of a swinging movement in both a horizontal plane and a vertical plane, thus permitting the entire crane to drop down when the bag is removed therefrom, as

hereinafter described. The front end of the arm 8 of each crane is slotted at one side thereof, as indicated by the numeral 14, to provide a seat in which the lower portion of a vertical rod 15 is adapted to loosely fit, said rod being mounted at its upper end upon the axle of the grooved tro e which travels upon the wire 1. The lower extremity of the rod 15 is bent to form a bagremoving hook 17, said rod, its hook, and the trolley wheel forming the ba catcher, which term is hereinafter employe to designate such combination of elements. The brake mechanism which is connected with the rod 15 comprises a horizontal shaft 18 journaled at opposite ends in bearings secured to the standards 2 and 6, a drum 19 and friction-disk 20 attached to said shaft,

and a brake lever 21 pivoted centrally to. the

y-wheel 16 standard 6 and provided at one end with a brake strap 22 and at the other end with an adjustable weight 23, the brake strap being held against the friction disk 20 by the action of the weight. To the drum is secured one end of a cable 24, which is ada ted to be wound therearound when the shaft is rotatedby means of its crank-handle 25, the other end of the cable being attached to the catcher adjacent the hook portion 17 thereof. By reason of this construction, it will be apparent that when the mail-bag is removed by the catcher from the moving train, the impetus of the train will cause the catcher to travel along the trolley-wire towards the standard 2 at the o posite end thereof, thus unwinding the cab e 2%; from the drum 1-9, the movement of the catcher being gradually checked by the contact of the brake strap 22 with the friction disk 20. It will be likewise apparent that, immediately upon the removal of the mail-bag from the crane by the car-carried mechanism, the crane arm 8 will be given a'slight swinging movement upon its pivot sufficient to eflect its disengagement from the spring 12, whereupon the crane, as a whole, Wlll swing downwardly into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 7. l The car-carried catching mechanism comprises a vertical plate 28 pivoted at one end to the adjacent side of the frame 29 of the car door, for movement in a horizontal plane. The upper and lower edges of said plate are bent laterally to form horizontal triangular Wings 30 which project towards the interior of the car, the inner edge of each wing being provided with a bead 31 adapted to receive a rod 32, which rojects beyond the same at its forward end? as shown, and forms a stop which is adapted to contact with the opposite side of the outward movement of the catcher, and disposing the plate 28 at an acute angle to the plane of the car side, as will be apparent. The outer face of said plate has secured thereto between its upper and lower edges,

in any preferred manner, a horizontal triangular shelf 33, whose width is greatest at its rear end. This shelf is adapted to su port the mail-bag to be removed by t e traveling catcher at the receiving station, the ring carried by the bag at one end thereof being held in osition for engagement by the catcher hook y means of a spring strap 34 secured at its outer end to each wing and having its inner end bent outwardly. There are, as stated, two of such straps, one or the other of which is utilized according to the direction in which the car is traveling, the pivotal connection between the plate and door frame being such that said plate may be removed from one side thereof, reversed, and subsequently attached to the other side. The forward edge of each of the wings is provided with n nwa dly -eX 1 di g door frame, thus limiting the V-shaped notch 35, the forward edge of the plate cooperating with the adjacent portions of said wings to form a forwardly extending vertical shoulder 36 which is thus spaced away from the rear walls of the notches 35 and is adapted to remove the bag from the crane at the receiving station as the train passes thereby, it being understood that such shoulder passes between the bag and the forward end of the cross beam 5. will therefore be obvious that during the passage of the train past the receiving station, the mail bag resting upon the shelf 33 will be removed by the hook 17, while the shoulder 36 will remove the mail bag from the crane arms 8 and 9. It is further to be understood that by reason of the provision of a crane at each end of the trolley located at the receiving station, and of the reversible attachment of the car-carried catcher, the invention is susceptible of operation irrespective of the direction from which the train approaches the receiving station, the mail bag to be delivered to the train being supported upon the crane nearest the appreaching train, with which crane the traveling catcher is engaged, as above stated.

The disposition of the plate 28 at an acute angle to the plane of the car side, and the formation of the vV-shaped notches in the ings 30 thereof, will have the effect of o posing the rear walls of said notches to t e mail bag to be removed from the crane by thB ShQulder 36. In consequence, the bag will strike against the said walls of the upper wing and will therefore swing the plate and its wings bodily through the doorway into the interior of the car, the upper wing serving additionally as a support upon which the upper portion of the transferred bag rests. The invention further contemplates the provision of mean for effectin the transfer of a series of mail bags from t e station to the train and vice versa. To this end, the rings at the ends of each mail bag are each connected by a chain 37 to a central ring 38. In the case of the mail bags to be delivered to the train, these rings 38 are engaged with the crane arms 8 and 9, while in the case of the mail bags to be delivered to the receiving station, one of the rings 38 is engaged by the outbent end of the strap 34 and thus held in position to be engaged by the hook 17, In the last mentioned instance, the ring 38 may be replaced by a hook if preferred. Wh re more than one mail bag is to be trans:

ferred at a time, the bags are held together by a belt 4 1 which tral portions thereo the ends of the belt ei g cenne ted t geth r in y p erred manner- The nyen in still th contemp a s t e provis en o me r sw ng ng h rane bodily in op rati e sition, nd 9f devises fa etainin th a l passes around the cen.

bag or bass.

engagement with the 11' per crane arm during such movement. 0 effect the movement of the crane, its upper arm has secured thereto at its rear end, a cable 39; a downward pull upon the cable will, therefore, lower the then u permost end of the arm 8 and raise the ot er end, by reason of the pivotal connection between the rod 7 and the cross beam 5. To eflect the rotation of the mail ba r or bags during the swingin movement 0 said arm, the front end thereo is provided with a spring hook 40 which is adapted to engage the upper ring 38, where more than one mail ba is attached to the crane, or to the upper ring of the bag when the transfer of a single bag only is to be effected.

The 0 eration of the invention, as a whole, is thouglit to be apparent from the foregoing, and further description thereof is therefore omitted, it being understood that modifications and changes may be obviously made within the scope of the ap ended claims, as

'the invention 1s not inten ed to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a'mail-bag catching and delivering ap aratus, the combination, with a track, of a ag-removing member adapted to travel thereon; a flexible element connected at one end with said member; and a brake mechanism connected with the other end of said flexible element, for checking the movement of said member.

2. In a mail-bag catching and delivering ap aratus, the combination, with a track, of a ag-removing member adahpted to travel thereon; a rotary member; a exible element secured at one end to said rotary member and ada ted to be wound around the same, said flexible element being connected at its other end with said bag-removing member; and means for checking the unwinding of said flexible element from said rotary member, to terminate the movement of said bagremoving member.

3. In a mail-bag catching and deliverin ap aratus, the combination, with a track, 0 a ag-removing member adapted to travel thereon; a shaft; a drum and a friction disk secured to said shaft; a flexible element secured at one end to said drum and adapted to be wound around the same, said flexible element being connected at its other end with said bag removing member; and a brake adapted for engagement with said disk, for checking the unwinding of said flexible element from said drum, to terminate the movement of said bag-removing mem-.

ber.

4. In a mail-bag catching and delivering apparatus, the combination, with an elevated track, of a bag-supporting crane including upper and lower arms, one of said traveling bag-removing member suspended from said track and adapted for initial engagement in said notch, whereby the retention of said member in operative position is eifected.=

5. In a mail-ha catching and deliverin apparatus, the com ination, with an elevate track, of a bag-supporting crane including upper and lower arms, one of said arms being provided with a notch; and a traveling bagremoving member suspended from said track and comprising a wheel, a de endin rod secured at its upper end to said wheel and a hook located at the lower end of said rod, said rod being adapted for initial engagement in said notch, whereby the retention of said bag-removing member in operative position is effected.

6. In a mail-bag catching and delivering apparatus, the combination, with an elevate track, of a bag-supporting crane, including upper and lower arms, one of said arms being provided with a notch; a travelin bag-removing member adapted for initia engagement in said notch; and a brake mechanism connected with said member for checking its initial movement.

' 7. In a mail-bag catching and deliverin apparatus, the combination, with an elevate track, of a bag-supporting crane, a travelin bag-removing member suspended from sai track and adapted for initial engagement With said crane; a flexible element connected at one end with said member; and a brake mechanism connected with the other end of said flexible element for checking the movement of said member.

8. Ina mail-ha catching and deliverin apparatus, the com ination, with an elevated track, of a bag-supporting crane including upper and lower arms, one of said arms being provided with a notch; a traveling bag-removin member suspended from said track and a apted for initial engagement in said notch; a flexible element connected at one end with said member; and a brake mechanism connected withthe other end of said flexible element, for checking the movement of said member.

9. In a mail-bag catching and deliverin apparatus, the combination, with an elevated track, of a bag-suporting crane including upper and lower arms, one of said arms being provided with a notch; a traveling bag-removing member suspended from said track and comprising a wheel, a dependin rod secured at its upper end to sald whee and a hook located at the lower end of said rod, said rod being adapted for initial engagement in said notch; a flexible element connected at one end with said member; and a brake mechanism connected with the other end of said flexible element, for checking the movement of said member. 7

10. In a mail-bag catching and delivering apparatus, the combination, with an elevated track, of a bag-removing member ada ted to travel thereon and comprising a whee a depending rod secured at its up er end to said Wheel, and a hook located at t e lower end of said rod; a rotary member; a flexible element secured at one end to said rotary member and adapted to be wound around the same, said flexible element being connected at its other end with said rod, and means for checking the unwinding of said flexible element from said rotary member, to terminate the movement of said bag-removing member.

11. A mail-bag supporting crane comprising, in combination, a pivoted upper arm; a lower arm; said arms being adapted to suport a mail-bag between the same at their orward ends; and a resilient member adapted for engagement with the rear end of said upper arm, for holding saidarms in operative position. i

12. A mail-bag supporting crane, comprising, in combination, a vertical standard; a cross beam secured to the same; an upper arm pivotally connected with said cross beam and ada ted for movement in a vertical plane; a ower arm, said arms being ada ted to sup ort a mail-bag therebetween at t eir forwarif ends; means connecting the adjacent ends of said arms; and a, resilient member secured to said standard and adapted for engagement with the rear end of said upper arm, to hold said arms in operative position.

13. A mail-bag supporting crane, comprising, in combination, a vertical standard; a cross beam secured thereto; an upper arm having a hinged pivotal connection with said beam for movement in a vertical lane; a lower arm, said arms being adapted to support a mail-bag therebetween at their forward ends; flexible connections between the adjacent ends of said arms; and a flexible element connected to the rear end of said upper arm, for moving the same into operative position.

14. A mail-bag supporting crane, comprising, in combination, a vertical standard; a cross beam secured thereto; an upper arm having a hinged pivotal connection with said beam for movement in a vertical lane; a lower arm, said arms being adapted to support a mail-bag therebetween at their forward ends; a flexible element secured to the rear end of said upper arm for moving the same into operative position; and a resilient member carried by said standard and adapted for engagement with said last mentioned arm end, for holding said arms in operative position.

15. A mail-bag supporting crane comprising, in combination, a vertical standard; a cross beam carried thereby; an upper arm having a pivotal connection with said beam for movement in a vertical plane; a lower arm, said arms being adapted to support a mail-bag therebetween at their forward ends; means connecting the adjacent ends of said arms; a flexible element secured to the rear end of said up er arm, for moving the same into horizonta position; and a member car ried by said upper arm at its forward end, and adapted for engagement with a mail-bag, to prevent displacement' of the mail-bag therefrom, during the vertical movement of said arm.

16. A mail crane comprising, in combination, a support; an upper arm having a pivotal connection with said sup ort, and adapted for movement in a vertica plane; a lower arm, said arms being ada ted to support a maiLbag therebetween at t eir forward ends; connecting devices between the adjacent ends of said arms; means secured to the rear end of said up er arm, for moving the same into horizontal position and means adapted for engagement with said arm end when in such position, to hold the same against displacement.

17. In a mail-bag catching and delivering apparatus, the combination, withan elevated track, and a traveling bag-removing member suspended therefrom, of a bag supporting crane comprising an upper arm provided with a notch in which said bag removing member is adapted for initial engagement, a lower arm, and connecting devices between the adjacent ends of said arms, and means adapted for engagement with said upper arm, to hold said arms in proper position'with respect to each other.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

OSCAR O. AYRES. Witnesses:

A. H. SooTT, R. M. ATGHISON. 

